Robbins L J
Denver VA Medical Center.
Geriatrics. 1989 Apr;44(4):31-4, 37.
Weight loss among elderly patients is a common clinical problem that may herald numerous medical and psychosocial disorders. Up to 50% of patients claiming weight loss will not have their complaint corroborated by medical records or family members. Since modest weight loss may occur as a physiologic change with advancing age, the practicing physician must have a working definition of pathologic weight loss that triggers an appropriate diagnostic evaluation. After a careful initial history, physical exam, and a limited laboratory test battery, physicians will identify most patients with physical causes for weight loss. Like many other geriatric syndromes, weight loss may require the identification and correction of multiple contributing factors.
老年患者体重减轻是一个常见的临床问题，可能预示着许多医学和心理社会疾病。多达50%声称体重减轻的患者，其主诉无法得到病历或家属的证实。由于随着年龄增长，适度体重减轻可能是一种生理变化，执业医师必须有一个病理性体重减轻的实用定义，以触发适当的诊断评估。经过仔细的初步病史采集、体格检查和有限的实验室检查项目后，医生将识别出大多数体重减轻存在身体原因的患者。与许多其他老年综合征一样，体重减轻可能需要识别并纠正多个促成因素。
